I am fairly sure the rhinos had been captured for some reason. I have been on a few of these, and the vets spray an antiseptic/antibiotic on any open wounds/scatches they see. It is coloured purple so they can see where it has been applied.

Maybe the cross was to ensure they could find that particular rhino again from the air.....or avoid it for some reason. Some rhinos do not take well to capture and will refuse to eat in the bomas and have to be released again - perhaps it was one of these and they need to be sure they do not capture it again?????? Many reasons are possible, of course!

_________________Smiling is contagious. Start an epidemic today!

Have you read the entrance permit? Do you KNOW the Conditions of Entry?

It would not be to mark them for capture. To do that marking, they would have to be darted and marked, released and then re darted within a short time, and captured. Darting an animal is not good for its health and it is done only when absolutely necessary.

Animals which are captured for release in other parks are captured and held in a boma until they are transported.

We saw these two Rhinos about a month ago. Sadly, when we went to check up on them, we got the news that one of them was poached. Poaching is an increasing problem facing South Africa’s rhinoceros population. Only about 11,000 white rhinos survive in the wild, and many organizations are working to protect this much loved animal.

In my opinion the sighting boards need to have rhino sightings removed as they are more dangerous to these wonderful animals, then by forum members mentioning it's location several weeks later. In our recent trip all sighting boards still had pins for rhino sightings which are current and would make it easy for poachers.

_________________Cheers Her Highness Jockelina

Life is not measured by the breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away

I think there's a story about this rhino shown here . As you can see , his one horn was removed , and his one ear is gone .

I cannot recall what his story was , but I think he had moved from somewhere in the south , to around Mopani camp , which is where we saw him in 2006/2007 . I think he was named Hap-oor or something , but he was quite a gentle beast , and as can be seen , used to frequent the area just north of Mopani . We only saw him a couple of times , and then he died -, how , I do not recall either , but I have vague recollections of seeing his bloated carcass in that same area in 2007 ? Perhaps someone can tell us ?

_________________Tread softly , and let your departure not be spoiled by the damage of your arrival

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